Lorain police oppose renewal of Cotton Club’s liquor license

LORAIN — Lorain police are objecting to the renewal of the Cotton Club’s liquor license after four separate violent incidents involving alcohol resulted in five arrests at the bar early Saturday morning.

David West, 31, from Elyria was charged with an outstanding warrant.

Raya Davidson, 29, from Elyria, was charged with obstructing official business.

Allen Tate, 35, from Lorain, was charged with resisting arrest and criminal damage.

The incidents began about 3 a.m. Saturday at the Cotton Club, 1766 East 28th St., a bar with a reputation for violent crimes, according to the police report. Police who were at the bar saw Tate walking in with a hand over his face, shielding himself from officers as he went to the kitchen.

Police followed Tate, who has a history of drug trafficking and drug possession in Lorain as well as a few outstanding warrants. When they reached him, police began an effort to take him into custody for the warrants. Tate fought back. Police were finally able to handcuff Tate and transport him to Lorain City Jail.

As police took Tate into custody, other officers at the bar found West — who had an outstanding warrant through Lorain — hiding from police behind the DJ booth in the bar.

Officers handcuffed West and took him outside where Davidson was refusing to move from the car. Police finally pushed Davidson aside but she started an argument about police being physically aggressive.

Eventually police put West in the patrol car and charged Davidson with obstructing official business. Both West and Davidson were taken to Lorain City Jail.

Half an hour after the first three arrests, police responded to a fight at the bar. They found Chambers standing on the top of the bar, getting ready to jump at another man. When officers tried to pull him back, Chambers started to swing a fist at them but was stopped by police before he could hit anyone. He told police he didn’t realize they were officers and would “never think to strike a Lorain Police officer,” according to the report.

Police charged Chambers for disorderly conduct and took him to Lorain City Jail. After he was behind bars, they found a small bag of heroin lying on the floor of the room where Chambers’ information was processed.

Surveillance videos of the room led police to believe Chambers dropped the bag on the floor and he was charged with drug possession and paraphernalia.

While some officers were dealing with the fight inside the bar, other officers saw Fairley get into a shoving match with the Cotton Club bouncer, according to the report. Police asked Fairley to leave the bar but he refused. Police took Fairley outside and asked for his ID but he started walking away. When they again asked for his ID he refused and was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing official business, according to the report.

Police are waiting for a decision from the State Liquor Commission on the liquor license, according to Lorain police Sgt. Mike Failing.